Norway Wharf

Situated on the Hackney branch of the Regent’s Canal, Norway Wharf is a residential concept which allows residents to connect with their circadian rhythm, exploring how modern homes be designed around the sun to increase mental & physical health. The scars of site’s industrial past also provided a focal point to my design. The daily grind of life that workers faced during the Industrial Revolution may have subsided somewhat, yet for many, our bodies, minds & values have shifted towards our working capital. The invention of the light bulb allowed us to work 24-hours a day, yet at what cost to our health? How could re-connecting back to our natural, pre-Industrial Revolution body clocks provide a way to heal? By observing the movement of sunlight at different times of the day & of the year, the interior space has been configured to allow my client to pair her activities with the sun, encouraging a connection back to her natural body clock. As an mudlarking historian, my client wanted to incorporate reclaimed, re-purposed & salvaged materials in the design to connect with the historical people of London, whilst also being conscious of our planet’s future. I also worked in partnership with the local domestic violence charity Solace, providing guest quarters for survivors to work alongside my client to gain new skills, connections & confidence. The interior tones & natural materials have purposely been selected to encourage tranquility & calm, providing a safe & nurturing environment for the women as they embark on a new chapter through a collective.